But the 43,000 fans in attendance – and the millions more watching on TV around the globe – know different.

This was not a footballing giant frustrated by a minnow that parked the bus.

Quite the opposite.

In fact, so far and so fast have Manchester United fallen, that Sunderland – a team that stayed in the Premier League by the skin of its teeth last season – were able to compete on equal terms yesterday.

The Manchester United line-up contained the names Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Juan Mata, but the other eight players present would not stand out in a mid-table side.

And Louis van Gaal’s 3-5-2 system has only made things worse, as ordinary players struggle with an unfamiliar formation.

So forget the headlines, it was Sunderland who were left ruing the two dropped points.